Farrowing crates confine sows during and after birth to protect piglets from crushing, but freedom farrowing systems achieve similar outcomes with dramatically better sow welfare.
The farrowing crate was designed to solve one problem — piglet crushing — at the cost of creating another: the near-complete deprivation of sow freedom and natural behaviour for up to five weeks per reproductive cycle. The sow experiences every reproductive period of her life in a state of frustration and constraint that prevents her from performing the nesting behaviours she is strongly motivated to express. Freedom farrowing systems prove that these two welfare goals need not conflict. Properly designed, they protect piglets and allow sows to build nests, move freely and interact normally with their piglets. The transition requires investment and management skill but is fully commercially viable.